How to Make a Wallet from Plastic Bags- Life Reimagined Project

[siamesedream1976]

Wow, this is amazing. Thanks for sharing this project. One question, do you need to have all the windows open to make the fabric? I am wondering if I should wait until summer to do this craft.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@siamesedream1976 Thanks!  I only put my iron on a medium setting and swipe pretty quickly so the iron doesn't concentrate in just one area enough to completely melt the plastic. I haven't experienced any strong fumes. You should be in a well ventilated area either way so windows open would help.

[r0ckyr0nnie]

this looks fun

[TheCraftyGemini]

@r0ckyr0nnie :o) It is!

[doomfaeryshannon]

Ok so, I'm new to sewing and this project looks fab! Do you think using the fused bags here instead of batting for the wristlet in your other video would work well?

[TheCraftyGemini]

@doomfaeryshannon Hi there! Are you wanting to add it instead of batting for some stability? I guess that would work. But you could also make it just from the fused bags and not have fabric at all. Experiment with it.. and have fun!

[vdawn1983]

What a great project, I love seeing someone live their dreams (even if it's not what you thought it would be before) Congrats on all the upcoming changes for you and your family!

[TheCraftyGemini]

@vdawn1983 Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it. :o)

[pantala40]

@Ricine they make a fast forward button for a reason...! wow

[beckynrustin416]

Love the whole video. I really like the info and seeing you as a whole person. Keep up the great work@

[TheCraftyGemini]

@beckynrustin416 Thanks so much! :o)

[TheCraftyGemini]

@Ricine Thanks for your feedback.

[lauracooks09]

this is great! I've been working with plastic bags for over a year now, I crochet them. I cannot make my purses fast enough, people are facinated what they are made of and pay me very good money for them. I've been back ordered with them since I've started making them, and everyone has been happy to wait for me to make theirs. I do think I will try this...I'm just learning to sew, but this looks pretty basic, I appreciate your time that you take to share your skills. Peace be with you.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@lauracooks09 That sounds like fun! Glad you found people that appreciate your art and skill. Glad to help. :o)

[carritballet]

this is wonderful!!! i am also a gemini... and quite crafty... (if i do say so myself!) :)

i would like to use this project on my blog as one of my first projects! i wll be sure to credit you.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@carritballet LOL. Sounds great! Thank you!

[sunshineismyhusband]

Glad I found you. I think I like your channel. No, I know I like your channel.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@sunshineismyhusband Thanks!

[sassycrafter]

You make the fusing looks so easy! I had a hard time when I tried fusing bags last year.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@sassycrafter I find that keeping the iron on medium heat and taking your time works best. I used to put it on high and try to rush it and it would burn and crinkle waaaay too much. :o/

[85seal85]

wow totally amazing!!

[TheCraftyGemini]

@85seal85 Thanks! It's fun, too!

[jmtltt07]

LOVE this tutorial!

[TheCraftyGemini]

@jmtltt07 Thank you!

[iako131313]

Супер!!! Спасибо!!!!

[Discernaoftruth]

very creative! You inspire me because I want to start a blog/youtube channel. Thank you so much for being encouraging

[TheCraftyGemini]

@Discernaoftruth No problem! Go for it!

[TheCraftyGemini]

@Discernaoftruth No problem! Anyone can do this stuff. You just need to have some drive and a vision! Best of luck!

[xicana260]

saw u on abc, thought to check out your channel and love, love, love it..i love the plastic wallet you have done....i like to do crafts and you inspire me to get back at it.....



[TheCraftyGemini]

@xicana260 Great to hear! Thanks for looking me up. :o) Happy crafting!

[bleigh8793]

Hey Vanessa! I just saw YOU on 20/20!!! I was already a follower of Betty's Kitchen, but now I'm a follower HERE!!... Love the wallet, and have a great weekend! ~tina

[TheCraftyGemini]

@bleigh8793 Thank you so much!! :o)

[charmimu]

AHA great video and you just lit my light bulb for another project I can do with plastic bags! Yay!!! I will tag you once I perfected it..One question, till to this day I cannot figure this out but how do I keep my stitches (both front and back part) neat? I always have messy stitches in the back part. Help please. thank you!

[surfergal17011]

@charmimu sounds like you need to adjust the bottom tension on your machine. check your manual it will tell you how to do it :)

[TheCraftyGemini]

@charmimu That has to do with your stitch tension or the way you are threading your machine. I suggest taking off the top thread and checking your machine's user manual to make sure you are threading it correctly. Specifically, you have to make sure it is going through the tension discs on the machine and that your tension is where it should be. Most machines will take a tension setting of 2-5 depending on what the center mark is for your tension setting. Check your manual for specifics.

[CrunchyCrafts]

heyy what if i dont have a dry setting on my iron? :) great tutorial btw :) xx

[TheCraftyGemini]

@CrunchyCrafts Hey! All irons have the ability to iron with dry heat whether or not its an actual setting depends on whether it can steam also or not. What I mean by dry setting is that you just want to use the plain hot iron. If your iron has a steam capability you want to shut that off or make sure it has no water inside. Hope that helps.

[CrunchyCrafts]

@TheCraftyGemini could i just heat it up first, and then switch the plug off later ? :) x

[TheCraftyGemini]

@CrunchyCrafts Sure. Whatever you need to do to get a medium hot iron. :o)

[aglanceatmyworld]

Very cool project! I'll have to check out the life reimagined project :)

[needinsight]

all plastic! amazing.

my grandson made some wallets like this with duct tape, they were really neat.

[jcrefasi1]

Vanessa, Couldn't you use this "fabric" to back a baby bib?? Or do you think it would then have to be air dried??

[TheCraftyGemini]

@jcrefasi1 I would be afraid to pop it in the dryer and have the melted plastic ruin your dryer. Maybe if you put it on a cool tumble dry? Hope that helps.

[tweetnes]

Hope you are feeling well. I am so ready to see you new bundle of baby =) When is the big day?

This was really fun. I like the colors too. Is there a way to make a little purse with the bags for my granddaughter?

BIG HUGS

[TheCraftyGemini]

@tweetnes Once you fuse the fabric you can make pretty much anything out of it. So, little purses would look really cute! Maybe braid a few different colored plastic bags to create the shoulder straps or handles... :o)

[COASTIEMOM27]

Really cool.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@COASTIEMOM27 Thx!

[joygross]

What a fabulous idea..

[TheCraftyGemini]

@joygross :o)

[TheBuford123]

You are amazing. You make every project look so easy, and the instructions are so clear. When is the new baby coming?

[TheCraftyGemini]

@TheBuford123 Glad you enjoyed the tutorial. :o)

[AliciaFrenchieKisses]

Thank you for the great tutorial and inspirations. I also studied and got a diploma in law, but am unsuccesful in finding a job and looking for other ways. Greetings from a Slowenian gemini.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@AliciaFrenchieKisses Thanks! Best of luck to you... keep your options open I'm sure something will stick!

[Trayne1837]

I've been saving cat food and dog food bags..they are a good plastic.. but not sure what I want to do with them... besides making a reusable grocery bag.. what could I use them for... there is almost 2 yds of plastic "fabric"

[TheCraftyGemini]

@Trayne1837 Not sure what type of pet food bags you have but if its all plastic.. try fusing it to see what kind of fabric you end up with. You can make all kinds of stuff.... maybe a larger messenger bag or backpack?

[CraftyKoo]

@Trayne1837 Threadbanger has a good laptop case you could make too.

[missymath1]

You are incredibly gifted--thanks for sharing.

[TheCraftyGemini]

@missymath1 Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[MamaNaturalBlog]

Amazing and creative!

[TheCraftyGemini]

@MamaNaturalBlog Thank you! :o)

[lin90210]

cool idea =)

[beauteantillaise]

VERY CREATIVE

[beverleinichole]

This is so cool, Vanessa! We have a few year's worth of grocery bags that we didn't want to throw away/never got around to recycling that are just taking up space. It would never have occurred to me to use them as a fabric.

Thank you for sharing!